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January 9, 2006

Colonial Williamsburg’s early winter guests are in for a special treat this year as they experience the Governor’s Palace undergoing a remarkable makeover to reflect the lifestyle of the last royal governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, and his family.

Lord Dunmore’s Virginia legacy is a proclamation he issued in 1775 calling all able bodied men to assist him in defense of the British colony, including slaves who were promised their freedom in exchange for service in the King’s Army. This was very controversial at the time, especially among slave holders who feared a mass slave rebellion. But the proclamation proved successful and within a month Dunmore had more than 800 soldiers.

Colonial Williamsburg guests will learn how Dunmore lived during the “The Governor Palace Gets a Makeover” tour when they get a behind-the-scenes look at work in progress and learn about Colonial Williamsburg’s efforts to preserve, maintain and appropriately interpret its historic sites. A Colonial Williamsburg admission ticket and reservation are required. These tours are on selected dates only. For more information or reservations call toll-fee 1-800-HISTORY.